Bend wildlife hospital Think Wild offers guidance about avian influenza as illness ramps up across Oregon, US

(Update: Adding video, comments from Think Wild staff)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Bird flu is on the rise in Oregon and across the U.S, and Bend wildlife hospital Think Wild offered guidance Tuesday on how to safely navigate risks posed by the virus. 

The nonprofit organization noted that the virus is affecting wild bird populations, domestic poultry, cattle and a few rare cases of pets and humans. 

"Avian influenza has been detected in 153 wild bird species across the United States, and there have been over 10,000 cases tested and confirmed," Molly Honea, Think Wild's communications coordinator, said Tuesday. "So we've seen an increase in calls that could potentially be avian influenza."

While Think Wild is still accepting native birds for care, it's following restrictions by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to not treat waterfowl or water birds, which can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus. 

Wild birds can contract and spread avian influenza to and from backyard and commercial poultry flocks through feces or saliva.

Lead Wildlife Technician Savanna Scheiner said, "We can see neurologic symptoms, so seizing or head tremors, tremors or something like that."

"They can also experience respiratory symptoms, lethargy, so things that we would kind of see if we had the flu as well," she said. "But it's difficult to know in these birds without testing them, and ODFW is the one who conducts that testing."

The virus moves throughout North America during spring and fall migrations. 

Think Wild is urging the public to help prevent the virus from spreading by changing clothes before entering poultry areas and limiting visits to other farms. Other tips include removing bird feeders if sick birds are seen and keeping domestic poultry away from wild birds, with no standing water nearby that might attract waterfowl.

Scheiner said, "We recommend keeping cats indoors, but especially due to avian influenza, because if they catch an infected bird and eat it, it's potentially going to spread to them, as well as cats or dogs eating raw pet food that is poultry, because that cannot be screened for the virus potentially before they're eating it."

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Here is Think Wild's news release with the detailed background and guidance:

Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) are on the rise in Oregon and across the US, affecting wild bird populations, domestic poultry, cattle, and a few rare cases of pets and humans.

Bend wildlife hospital Think Wild says it is closely monitoring the situation and taking strict precautions to prevent potential disease spread at their facility. They also have suggestions for the public for how to keep pets, people, and wildlife safe during this time. 

The current H5N1 strain of avian influenza presents a complex challenge for wild bird populations, particularly migratory waterfowl, raptors, and scavenging species.

Avian influenza has been detected across 153 wild bird species throughout the United States, with over 10,400 confirmed cases.

While waterfowl are natural hosts for avian influenza viruses and typically carry low pathogenic strains without severe illness, this highly pathogenic H5N1 strain has proven unusually persistent and lethal, causing increased deaths among wild geese, shorebirds, and raptors.

The virus moves throughout North America during spring and fall migrations, with wild birds serving as both victims and vectors of the disease. 

Wild birds can both contract and spread avian influenza to and from backyard and commercial poultry flocks, primarily through their feces and saliva.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) have been testing birds and tracking outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which was first detected in Oregon in 2022. The virus's concerning spread now extends beyond wild birds and poultry to include various mammals.

Oregon reported the first US detection of H5N1 in swine in October 2024, followed by the state's first human case in November, and most recently, a domestic cat infection linked to raw pet food in December 2024. This expanded range of affected species highlights the virus's evolving nature and increased transmission risks.

While Think Wild is still accepting most native birds for care, the wildlife center is following restrictions set by ODFW to not treat any adult species of waterfowl, waterbird or shorebird, which can be asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

All wild bird patients are screened for symptoms of avian influenza such as neurologic symptoms or respiratory distress, and sick birds are quarantined from all other patients. Some extreme cases may require immediate humane euthanasia to prevent animal suffering and reduce transmission risks. 

"Think Wild always maintains strict biosecurity measures, but we implemented additional HPAI-specific protocols when it was first detected in Oregon in 2022 to mitigate potential spread,” said Dr. Laura Acevedo, Think Wild’s veterinarian. "Our protocols include immediate diagnostics for sick birds, comprehensive protective equipment for staff, and rigorous cleaning procedures with EPA-registered disinfectants. These guidelines are of utmost importance to protect the patients in our care, as well as our staff and volunteers.”

To protect pets and people, Think Wild recommends keeping cats indoors and dogs leashed, not feeding raw poultry diets to pets, and avoiding contact with wild birds and their feces/saliva.

The public should report groups of sick or dead wild birds to ODFW and avoid handling wildlife that appears sick or deceased without protective equipment.

Signs of avian influenza in birds include neurologic symptoms such as head tics, incoordination and balance issues, or respiratory symptoms such as rattling breathing, and eye or nose discharge. 

The public can help prevent virus spread by:

• Removing bird feeders if sick birds are observed and regularly clean feeders with a 10% bleach solution
• Keeping domestic poultry enclosed and away from wild birds, with no standing water nearby that might attract waterfowl
• Following strict biosecurity measures if you have backyard flocks, including changing clothes before entering poultry areas and limiting visits to other farms
• Reporting sick or dead wild birds to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: 866-968-2600 or Wildlife.Health@odfw.oregon.gov 
• Reporting domestic bird illness to Oregon Department of Agriculture: 503-986-4711
• Maintaining distance from wild birds and following proper safety protocols if handling is necessary

For wildlife concerns or questions about avian influenza, contact Think Wild's wildlife hotline at 541-241-8680.

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About Think Wild

Think Wild is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Bend, Oregon. Our mission is to inspire the High Desert community to care for and protect native wildlife through education, conservation, rescue, and rehabilitation. We provide veterinary treatment and care at the wildlife hospital, staffed by expert wildlife rehabilitation staff, animal husbandry volunteers, and our staff veterinarian. Wildlife conflicts or injuries can be reported to our Wildlife Hotline at (541) 241-8680, which is monitored seven days a week from 9 AM to 3 PM. Visit us online at thinkwildco.org, or on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @thinkwildco.